23 Halloumi Recipes You Need To Try

If you’ve tried halloumi before then you know just how delicious it is. It’s super salty and it has a sort of “meaty” texture, so it makes a fantastic meat substitute. 

There are so many ways you can eat halloumi too. From salads to burgers, to fries, the possibilities are endless! 

We’ve put together a list of 23 halloumi recipes that you absolutely need to try and once you do, these dishes will become a staple in your menu plan. So let’s get started! 

1. Halloumi Watermelon Salad

Kicking off this list, we have the halloumi watermelon salad. If you love watermelon and you’re looking for a way to incorporate it into your meal plan, then this is the recipe for you. 

This recipe is a perfect summer dish and the halloumi pairs really well with the watermelon salad. You can eat this as a side dish or as a light main course. 

2. Giant Couscous Halloumi Salad

Another wonderful salad option, this giant couscous halloumi salad is great when you’re after a light, simplistic meal. 

The halloumi is soft and creamy, while the giant couscous is soft and nicely chewy. Throw in some crunchy green beans and your taste buds will be in heaven!

3. Halloumi Sandwich With Avocado Pesto

There’s nothing quite like a warm sandwich, and this halloumi sandwich with avocado pesto is an absolute must-try. 

This is a great lunch option that is sure to keep you feeling satisfied until dinner. The avocado pesto pairs beautifully with the halloumi. 

4. Grilled Halloumi Lamb Burger

Though halloumi makes a great meat substitute, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it with meat. These lamb burgers are incredibly tasty and filling and will leave you feeling satisfied and full. 

Along with the two main ingredients, this burger is also packed with fresh herbs, caramelized red onions, and a beautiful layer of sun-dried tomato pesto. 

5. Halloumi Pasta In Simple Tomato Sauce

Sometimes the simple recipes are the best, and this halloumi pasta recipe is definitely a good example of that. 

The halloumi mixes perfectly with the beautiful tomato sauce that is incredibly simple to make. Also thrown into the mix are fresh herbs and garlic, which really add even more flavor. Pasta lovers everywhere will love this dish. 

6. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Skewers

This is a great recipe choice for the summer or any BBQ parties you might be hosting. Peach might seem a bit out there at first, but we promise that once you’ve tried it with the halloumi, you’ll be wondering why you’ve never had it before!

This recipe also uses a jalapeno sauce that will give the whole dish an extra kick, which really brings the flavors out even more. 

7. Halloumi Stuffed Peppers

How could a recipe for stuffed peppers not make it onto this list? Halloumi is an excellent choice for the pepper’s filling thanks to the creaminess and saltiness it has to offer. 

You can add red chili to these peppers if you’re after a bit of spice, but if spice isn’t your thing, just leave it out! These stuffed peppers are extremely versatile: you can cater them to any dietary needs and they’ll still taste amazing. 

8. Fried Halloumi Bites

Frying halloumi is one of the most popular ways to enjoy this wonderful cheese. These fried halloumi bites are an absolute must-try as well. They are super crispy and super delicious, working best as a side dish or as part of a party spread. 

This is a really easy recipe to follow as well, you’ll be snacking on these delicious bites in no time at all! 

9. Halloumi And Greek Salad Wraps 

If you’re looking for a great lunch option that is super simple to make, these salad wraps are the perfect choice for you. 

The saltiness of the halloumi paired with the fresh salad makes these wraps extra delicious and you’ll feel satisfied after every single bite. 

10. Halloumi And Mediterranean Veg Traybake

This veg traybake is jam-packed with fresh veggies that are sure to fill you up.

Because vegetables are the main ingredient in this dish, it makes the whole recipe a bit more healthy than some of the other options on this list. 

Just because it’s healthier though, doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious! The saltiness of the halloumi gives the whole dish extra flavor and is sure to be a hit with the whole family. 

11. Beetroot Borani And Halloumi Breakfast Bowls

Not only do these breakfast bowls taste fantastic, but they also look incredible! The beetroot gives the whole dish a vibrant and fun color that will really brighten up your day and start it off right. 

The beetroot is lovely and creamy and the halloumi pairs absolutely perfectly with it. If you’re looking for a dish that will make breakfast time a bit more exciting, this is the dish for you! 

12. Bacon-Wrapped Halloumi With Pea Salad

Salads really are a great partner for halloumi, and this salad is absolutely gorgeous. The halloumi itself is wrapped in pieces of delicious bacon, which really gives the whole dish extra depth of flavor (see also ‘20 Delicious And Easy To Make Bacon Appetizers‘). 

The inclusion of peas in the salad makes this a fun way to get your veggies in too! On top of that, the whole dish is gluten-free and it will only take you about 20 minutes to prepare and cook. 

13. Halloumi Pasta Salad

Talking about salads, let’s take it to the next level and talk about a delicious pasta salad that you absolutely must try.

This halloumi pasta salad is incredibly filling and delicious, making it the perfect choice for anyone who wants a fun way to get their veggies in. 

And this pasta salad is absolutely full of veggies! You’ll also find olives and grilled eggplants in this dish that pair perfectly with the halloumi. 

14. Halloumi Tacos With Pineapple Mango Salsa

Vegetarians rejoice! If you’ve been missing tacos, then this is the perfect recipe for you. You just swap the meat out and put in the delicious halloumi and these tacos will taste just as amazing. 

Along with the tacos, this recipe includes an absolutely gorgeous pineapple and mango salsa that is super sweet and compliments the saltiness of the halloumi insanely well. 

15. Halloumi Sheet Pan Fajitas

The majority of Fajitas are made with meat, so similar to the tacos, you can just swap the meat out for halloumi and you’ll enjoy every single bite. 

Throw in some beautiful vegetables that you can mix and match, as well as a fantastic homemade fajita seasoning, and you’ll be experiencing a mixture of beautiful flavors that the whole family will enjoy. 

16. Crispy Marinated And Fried Halloumi

Sometimes, the best way to appreciate halloumi is to have it as the main ingredient.

This crispy, marinated and fried halloumi is absolutely incredible. You can enjoy it with a healthy side salad or you can put them in some burger buns and make a burger night out of it. 

Because of the way this halloumi is cooked, it will be super crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside, and you’ll probably never cook halloumi any other way after trying this recipe!

17. Halloumi, Harissa And Honey Toastie

Everybody loves a good cheese toastie, and once you try this version, you’ll be making it all the time. The rose harissa and honey pair absolutely beautifully with the halloumi, giving you the perfect balance of sweet and salty. 

On top of tasting absolutely divine, these toasties are completely meat-free, so if you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy this dish without having to worry about any meat products making it into the final product. 

18. Halloumi Stuffed Garlic Mushrooms

You either love or hate mushrooms, and if you love them, why not add some halloumi to the mix? 

The inclusion of halloumi gives this dish a bit more bulk and fills you up a lot better than just the garlic mushrooms by themselves.

This is a perfect dish if you want something that is filling but not too heavy and it tastes absolutely delicious. 

On top of tasting amazing, this garlic mushroom dish is also 100% gluten-free, so if you have a gluten intolerance or any dietary restrictions that mean you can’t have gluten, this is the perfect dish for you to try. 

19. Sage And Halloumi Roasted Broccoli With Caramelized Leeks

If you’ve never used sage in your cooking, this is a sign that you absolutely should! Sage is such a beautiful herb to use because it tastes amazing and it works with practically anything. 

This dish is the perfect way to get your greens in, is filled with broccoli and leeks. Roasted broccoli is especially good because it’s crunchy in the tastiest way.

The caramelized leeks are also delicious and compliment the rest of the dish perfectly. 

If you’re after a dish that is low in calories and a bit healthier, this is the perfect dish for you. It helps you get your greens in and tastes delicious. 

20. Halloumi Pizza With Spinach And Tomatoes

Homemade pizza is always the best pizza, and this halloumi variation is absolutely no exception. You can choose between homemade dough or ready-made store-bought. Regardless of your choice, you will absolutely love this pizza. 

The halloumi in this pizza is sprinkled on last after you’ve put the tomato sauce and spinach on, and of course, you can’t forget the mozzarella! This pizza is absolutely delicious and completely satisfying with every single bite. 

21. Butter Halloumi Curry

If you’re a fan of curry, then this butter halloumi curry is the perfect dish for you. It’s basically a butter chicken curry recipe, but you swap the chicken out for halloumi, and the results are absolutely exquisite. 

You need to make sure you have lots of spices on hand when you’re ready to make this dish, and the halloumi doesn’t actually get added until the end, so you really only need to focus on making sure the curry tastes right. 

22. Tomato Za’atar Soup With Halloumi Croutons

Tomato soup is an absolute classic that everybody loves. This particular tomato soup recipe will add halloumi into the mix, but not in the way you might think. 

Instead of regular bread croutons, you’ll be swapping them out for croutons that are made from the halloumi itself. All you have to do to make the croutons is slice them up and fry them until they are golden brown. 

This is a great way to incorporate halloumi into your dish without it being too much of a focus.

You can still enjoy the beautiful taste of the halloumi, but it takes a slight back seat, so you don’t have to worry about the extra calories that come from the halloumi. 

The tomato soup itself is absolutely delicious as well. Add in some cauliflower to reduce the amount of dairy you’re using and you’ll find that this soup recipe will become a staple in your meal plan. 

23. Bruschetta Baked Halloumi

And finally, we have this beautiful bruschetta-baked halloumi recipe. 

This particular recipe follows the standard bruschetta outline- you take a tomato, garlic, and olive oil mix and you place it on top of some lovely toasted bread.

However, instead of toasted bread in this recipe, you will be replacing it with a larger slice of halloumi, which tastes absolutely exquisite.

The saltiness of the halloumi pairs delightfully well with the tomato, garlic, and olive oil and it really brings out the flavor even more. On top of this, the whole recipe is lower in carbs than you might expect. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Soak Halloumi In Water? 

People usually soak halloumi in water when they want to leach out the preserving salts and make the cheese a bit softer. This helps to make the halloumi taste a bit better. 

Is Halloumi Good For Weight Loss? 

Halloumi cheese is quite high in fat, so it has quite a lot of calories.

Eating high amounts of halloumi can cause a quick calorie build-up, so if you’re trying to lose weight, you need to watch how much halloumi you eat, as it’s not the best food option for this. 

Can You Eat Halloumi Raw?

Yes, you can eat halloumi raw, but honestly, it tastes much better cooked. You will get a better taste and texture from the halloumi when you cook it. 

Where Does Halloumi Come From?

Halloumi originates from Cyprus and it is a semi-pasteurized cheese traditionally made with a mixture of goat and sheep milk. Most people know it by its Greek name, but it is also known by its Turkish name, hellim. 

Conclusion

There really is so much you can do with halloumi. Because it has quite a “meaty” texture, this makes it an absolutely delicious meat substitute that will fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied.

Once you try the recipes we have included in this article, you’ll find yourself making them again and again. Each one tastes absolutely delicious and if you weren’t a big fan of halloumi before, you definitely will be after you’ve tried these recipes! 

Try some of these recipes today and see which one is your favorite!